2012

The twin challenges of climate change and energy independence and the associated government regulations to reduce vehicle emissions present the automotive industry with an unprecedented pressure to develop cleaner, more efficient vehicles without making any compromises on performance, price or quality. Although it is not clear which technologies will dominate in the coming years - it is clear that the dominance of the internal combustion engine is now being challenged by many hybrid and electric drivetrain developments and the use of new alternative fuels to petrol and diesel. This presents some particular questions to policymakers and manufacturers; how to enable the successful introduction of this diverse set of new types of vehicle in an effective manner? How can industry be encouraged to adopt cleaner alternative vehicle technology to produce cleaner more efficient vehicles and how can consumers be encouraged to buy them? The dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions required by international law present some formidable targets that need to be achieved over the coming two decades. How can we best achieve them? This keynote aims to introduce the subject and in particular examines the role of motorsport competition in driving clean vehicle technology innovation and helping to persuade the public that green vehicles can be cool and exciting - and not as dull and boring as they are often perceived.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Drayson of Kensington PC BSc PhD FREng FIET FRSA

Born in 1960, Paul Rudd Drayson was educated at St. Dunstan’s College, London and Aston University where he took a BSc (Hons) degree in Production Engineering followed by a PhD in Robotics. His degree was sponsored by BL Carswhere he developed his passion for motorsport which had been sparked by growing up near the Brands Hatch race circuit in Kent. He was awarded an Honorary DSc by Aston University in 2007 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011. In 1986 he founded Lambourn Food Company, a business based on novel manufacturing technology that he developed successfully with venture capital backing. Following Lambourn’s acquisition, in 1993 he co-founded the Oxford University spin-out company PowderJect Pharmaceuticals Plc. He floated PowderJect on the London Stock Exchange in 1997 and over ten years as Chairman & Chief Executive he built PowderJect into one of the world’s leading vaccine companies with operations in the UK, USA and Scandinavia. He was made a working Peer in the UK Parliament’s House of Lords in May 2004 and was appointed as Minister for Defence Procurement and as Government Spokesman for Defence in the House of Lords in May 2005. In October 2008 he was appointed Minister of State for Science and Innovation and Minister of State for Defence Acquisition Reform with responsibility for the UK’s science research budget, defence science & technology budget, innovation policy and space programme. Paul is an experienced racing driver having competed in the Le Mans 24 hours in 2009 and 2010. He has contested the American, European and Asian Le Mans Championships, and driven at Le Mans, Sebring and in the Petit Le Mans endurance races. Last year, he won outright at Road America, and came third overall in the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Championship, campaigning a unique 225 mph Flex-Fuel Lola-Judd V10 LMP1 racing car. He became a Member of the British Racing Drivers Club in 2008. Following the change of government in May 2010, Paul returned to his previous career as a science entrepreneur and became President of the Motorsport Industries Association. Paul is Managing Partner of Drayson Racing Technologies, a motorsport R&D business he formed to develop novel technologies such as high performance electric drives. Paul is married to Elspeth, they have five children and live in Gloucestershire and London, UK.

Measurement and Instrumentation Challenges and Opportunities in Renewable Energy Systems

Steven G. Chalk

U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that global renewable electric generating capacity will rise 2.7% per year through 2035, more than any other electricity generating source. In the United States, renewable energy sources accounted for more than 12% of domestically produced electricity during the first nine months of 2011. To achieve the U.S. goal of producing 80% of our electricity from clean energy sources by 2035, the Department of Energy is investing in research and development aimed at improving the performance and reducing the cost of renewable energy technologies. This work includes addressing challenges associated with measurement and instrumentation. For example, the successful development of enhanced geothermal systems requires materials and measurement devices that can survive the high temperatures and vibrations associated with drilling for extended periods of time to guide and place wells within production zones. Wind turbine systems require sensors that can survive harsh environments for a 20-year design life and enable data quality in an electronically noisy environment. One of the key instrumental or analytical challenges associated with cellulosic biofuels production is the ability to detect trace amounts of detrimental compounds on-stream in a challenging (e.g. pH, temperature or pressure) environment. Finally, there are a number of important metrology and measurement challenges in manufacturing of PV and fuel cell systems, including the need for low cost high throughput/in-line diagnostics for quality control (e.g. detecting defects). These and other challenges will be discussed as well as some of the approaches being explored to overcome them.

Biography of Steven G. Chalk BSc MSc

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy at U.S. Department of Energy, DOE

In his role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Steven Chalk oversees applied research, development, and demonstration for a diverse clean energy portfolio. This portfolio spans wind, solar, geothermal, conventional hydropower, marine and hydrokinetic, biomass, and hydrogen technologies. Prior to his current position, Steve served as EERE's Chief Operating Officer and led EERE's Recovery Act implementation, which included $17 billion of awards, part of the nation's largest-ever investment in clean energy. Steve also supported the Treasury Department launch two new clean energy tax programs—the 1603 grants-in-lieu-of tax credits and the 48C advanced manufacturing tax credits, both of which contributed significantly to America's growing clean energy sector. During the previous Presidential transition period, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and led EERE.

From 2007 through 2008, Steve also held the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy. He also previously managed EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Program, the Solar Energy Technologies Program, and the Buildings Technologies Program.

In September 2008, the Partnership for Public Service honored Steve with a Service to America Medal in the Science and Environment category. This award recognized his management of several innovative clean energy projects, as well as his leadership in the federal government's efforts to expand renewable energy and energy efficiency use, particularly in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Greensburg, Kansas. Steve has also received the Meritorious and Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards.

Early in his career at the Department of Energy (DOE), Steve managed technology development programs in fuel cells, diesel emissions control, and materials for DOE's advanced automotive technology office. He also worked in the nuclear energy field where he oversaw DOE test programs for tritium production. Steve started his career with the Navy developing propellants and explosives for conventional weapons.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the George Washington University.

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Prof. Ernst FialaFormer R&D Head and Board Member of Volkswagen AG

Be sure to include tutorials in your conference plans. Tutorials are included in your conference registration -- there is no separate fee for tutorials at the Graz conference.

Tutorials will be held Sunday, 13 May 2012 (see tutorial schedule here) at Graz University of Technology (campus Inffeldgasse, lecture rooms i1, i2, i11, i12, i13). Tutorials, lunch (12:00-13:30), and coffee break (15:00-15:30) are included in the conference fees.

Coordinated tutorial tracks will introduce you to selected industry practices and measurement problems or to new academic developments explored in the specialized conference tracks. Tutorials are designed to allow you to get the greatest benefit from specialized I2MTC conference papers and posters.

The link above links to the hotels that are provided for I2MTC 2012, and prices for single/double rooms are listed including breakfast and all taxes. In the hotels mentioned in the list, rooms for 400 persons are reserved for the I2MTC conference until March 2012, so please book as soon as possible since later the room availability cannot be guaranteed.

Below are the listing of the hotels and how far they are from the conference location at Sparkassenplatz 3, 8010 Graz, Austria.

Registered Participants plus one accompanying person travelling to the conference can save up to 20% on their flights when flying the Star AllianceTM network. Further details can be found here.

Public Transportation

The Hotels Europa, Daniel, and Ibis are located directly at the Graz main station, and are therefore easily reached by public transport (i.e. train), public busses (approx. 2 Euro one-way) from the airport leave approximately every 30 minutes to Griesplatz and Jakominiplatz (traveling time 20 minutes), from where the other hotels can be reached after 5 min or less walk. Taxi service from airport to the city is approximately 20 Euro.

Visa Information

If you require an invitation letter for the visa application process, please forward your registration confirmation with a request for the invitation letter to Lauren Pasquarelli at laurenp@conferencecatalysts.com. Please note that you must first register for the conference before an invitation letter is issued.

Discounts are offered on most published business and economy class fares, excluding website/internet fares, senior and youth fares, group fares and Round the World fares.

Please note: For travel from Japan and New Zealand special fares or discounts are offered by the participating airlines on their own network. To obtain these special fares or discounts and for booking office information, please visit www.staralliance.com/conventionsplus/delegates/ and: